A Senate committee on Tuesday OK'd a ban on cell phone use by teen drivers when they're behind the wheel.

Sen. Ross Romero, D-Salt Lake City, proposed the ban after he said he heard from many youngsters upset about friends being killed or injured in accidents. He said he proposed SB113, banning calls by drivers 17 and younger, as an alternative to an all-ages ban the Legislature has resisted in recent years.

University of Utah psychology professor David Strayer asked the Senate Transportation and Public Utilities and Technology Committee to support the ban. He said his research using driver simulators has found teens are 6.5 times more likely to crash if they're using a cell phone while driving.

Sen. Kevin Van Tassell, R-Vernal, read an e-mail he received from someone worried that the bill would simply give peace officers another excuse to harass youths. He asked Romero to respond to that point, and Romero said that risk is outweighed by the safety improvements if police or even other adults ask youths to end phone calls when they see them driving and talking.

"There are going to be many opportunities to have another set of eyes," Romero said.

The committee voted 4-1 to advance the bill to the full Senate.